Delta Rae - Carry the Fire - Sire / Warner Brothers

October, 2012 CD of the Month

One thing that’s for sure is that Delta Rae does not lack ambition or appeal on their album Carry the Fire. And simply stated these kids can flat-out sing. The six-piece band, featuring four vocalists, is from North Carolina and they pounce onto the music scene with a collection of songs rooted in their southern upbringing and gospel inspired vocal blend. Carry the Fire is a lively attempt at Americana flavored with plenty of pop sensibility.

It’s easy to hear the potential on Carry the Fire. And as the story goes legendary record exec Seymour Stein also saw the promise in Delta Rae, and personally signed the six-piece. Those who have seen the band live will also attest to their appeal, as they’re perhaps even more dynamic on stage as they are on album. With that said, the band is really built around the voices of brothers Ian and Eric Holljes, sister Brittany, and friend Elizabeth Hopkins. The four vocalists play a dominant role on Carry the Fire. They each have a big voice, and when they all swell together on songs like “In the Morning” and the first single “Bottom of the River” it’s a pretty powerful dynamic.

And speaking of dynamics, the entire execution of the band is rather interesting. There are a lot of moving parts in the band and versatility seems to be the pivotal point in making it all work. Brothers Ian and Eric spearhead the songwriting. And for a young band with four singers, they seem to have a strong sense of each other’s voices and abilities. It’s impressive how well it all comes together. Carry the Fire is their debut and the future sure looks bright for Delta Rae.